Ford Pro revealed new charging hardware added to its suite of solutions to help make it easier for commercial customers to transition their fleets to electric.
The company announced new Series 2 AC Charging Station 80 amp and expanded DC Fast Charger options that are designed for commercial vehicle use. Combined with Ford Pro’s charging management software, the company provides a solution for both Ford and non-Ford electric vehicles.
“We’re committed to helping businesses make the transition to electric easy with a single-minded focus on curated commercial charging solutions,” said Ford Pro CEO Ted Cannis. “With our tailored EV consulting and portfolio of charging hardware and software solutions, we can design, implement and operate solutions for Ford and other brands that will last for many years to come. And we are not afraid to tell customers when electrification is not yet a good fit and support them with other solutions.”
Additionally, Ford announced a partnership with Duke Energy to offer the EV Complete Home Charging Plan pilot to EV customers in their service area. The pilot aims to bring more certainty to the cost of EV home charging by providing a low, fixed monthly rate for electricity used in exchange for allowing Ford and Duke Energy to manage charging times to best support the grid.
The pilot program will help support electric grid resiliency by managing selected customers’ home charging schedules when there is less strain on the grid and when more renewable energy is readily available. Ford EV customers, along with GM and BMW EV drivers, will receive an invitation to enroll in the program starting in September, with the EV Complete Home Charging Plan pilot officially launching on November 1.
Meanwhile, EVgo, a fast-charging public EV network, has announced a partnership with Amazon to offer an Alexa-enabled EV charging experience. Drivers with Alexa-enabled vehicles as well as those with automotive accessories like Echo Auto can now ask Alexa to help them find and navigate to nearby EV charging stations.